Biodiversity, conservation, deforestation, community movements and Indian wildlife
15,000 flowering plants. 6th in world. Many endemic to Western Ghats, NE India and Himalayas.
5-8% of world's amphibians, reptiles, mammals. 50,000+ insect species (many undiscovered).
India is a birdwatcher's paradise. Includes endemic species like Great Indian Bustard.
Found in rivers, coasts, coral reefs. Freshwater fish diversity especially high in Western Ghats.
King Cobra, gharial, saltwater croc, many endemic frogs in Western Ghats rain forests.
Western Ghats, Eastern Himalayas, NE India, Andaman & Nicobar Islands — high endemism.
| Type | Share | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Reserved Forests | ~54% | Most restricted. No public activity without permission. Highest value for conservation. MP, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh. |
| Protected Forests | ~29% | Some rights for local people (grazing, minor produce). Bihar, AP, Maharashtra. |
| Unclassed Forests | ~17% | Community/private owned. Least protection. Mostly NE states and Gujarat. |
| Category | Definition | Indian Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | Population is at a safe level for survival. No immediate threat. | Cattle, sal, pine, rodents, common birds |
| Endangered | In danger of extinction. Survival unlikely if threats continue. | Black buck, crocodile, Indian rhino, Indian wild ass, lion-tailed macaque, sangai |
| Vulnerable | Population declining. May become endangered if conditions worsen. | Blue sheep, Asiatic elephant, Gangetic dolphin, nilgiri langur |
| Rare | Small population. Could become vulnerable/endangered. | Himalayan brown bear, wild Asiatic buffalo, desert fox, hornbill |
| Endemic | Found only in specific isolated areas. Naturally rare. | Andaman teal, Nicobar pigeon, Mithun, Manipur bush quail |
| Extinct | Not found after extensive searches. No longer exists. | Asiatic cheetah (1952), pink-headed duck, Sumatran rhino (India) |
Largest single cause. After independence, vast forest areas converted to agricultural land to feed growing population. ~26,200 sq km lost (1951-80).
British era: massive felling for railways, shipbuilding. Post-1947: timber for construction, paper, furniture. Large-scale and often illegal.
Open-cast mining destroys entire habitats. Doon Valley (Uttarakhand): limestone quarrying devastated forests. Sariska (Rajasthan): mining threatened tiger habitat.
River valley projects submerged ~5,000 sq km of forest (1951-80). Narmada, Tehri dams displaced communities and wildlife.
Jhum (slash-and-burn) in NE India. Cycle shortened from 20-30 years to 3-5 years — no time for regeneration. ~1/3 of tribal area affected.
India has ~500 million livestock. Grazing pressure on forests is enormous. 270 million tonnes of fuelwood collected annually — exceeds sustainable limit.
India had extensive forest cover. Tribal communities practised sustainable use.
British exploited teak, sal for railways, ships. Forest cover fell to ~19%. Forest Act 1865 — government control.
26,200 sq km cleared for agriculture. 5,000+ sq km submerged by dams. Industrial and urban expansion.
Forest Conservation Act 1980 slowed diversion. Cover now ~21.67% but quality declining. Fragmentation is a major issue.
Strictest protection. No human activity (grazing, farming, forestry) allowed. E.g., Jim Corbett, Kaziranga, Ranthambore.
Limited human activity allowed. Grazing permitted in some. E.g., Bharatpur, Periyar, Chilika.
Large areas for conservation + sustainable use + research. E.g., Nilgiri, Sundarbans, Nanda Devi, Gulf of Mannar.
Project Tiger (1973). Tiger population: 1,827 (2006) → 3,167 (2022). Major success story!
Banned hunting and poaching. Established protected areas. Created Wildlife Advisory Board. Comprehensive protection framework.
Restricted diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes. Central government approval needed. Slowed forest loss significantly.
Umbrella legislation. Created the Ministry of Environment. EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) made mandatory for large projects.
Recognised rights of tribal and forest-dwelling communities. Right to collect minor forest produce, habitat rights. Historic for tribal welfare.
1970s, Uttarakhand. Women hugged trees to prevent felling. Led by Sunderlal Bahuguna & Gaura Devi. Result: 15-year ban on green felling in Himalayas. "Ecology is permanent economy."
Rajasthan, since 1700s. Protect blackbuck, chinkara, and khejri trees. 363 Bishnois sacrificed lives in 1731 (Amrita Devi). Still active today — filed cases against poachers.
Since 1988. Government + community partnership. 84,000+ committees across 27 states. Communities protect forests; get access to non-timber products (fruits, herbs).
Alwar, Rajasthan. 5 villages declared 1,200 hectares as their own wildlife sanctuary. Self-imposed rules to protect wildlife. No government intervention needed!
Across India. Forest patches protected for religious beliefs. Preserve rare species. Found in Meghalaya, Rajasthan, MP, Maharashtra, Kerala. Ancient conservation wisdom.
Kerala. Former poachers reformed into forest protectors and tourist guides. "Poacher turned gamekeeper" — community participation in anti-poaching operations.